The global point-of-care diagnostics market is dominated by North
America, followed by Europe, Asia-Pacific and the Rest of the World
(RoW). North America will continue to dominate the market in the
forecast period, followed by the Asia-Pacific. However, the Asia-Pacific
region is expected to grow at the highest CAGR of -13.6% from 2013 to
2018.

Over the next five years, the growth of the market in the Asia-Pacific
region is likely to be centered at Japan, China, and India. A number of
factors such as the huge patient population base, increasing
funding/investment toward the development of point of care
diagnosticproducts, growing focus of both international and domestic
players on the Asia-Pacific point-of-care diagnostics market, and large
number of R&D activities are driving the growth of the market in the
Asia-Pacific region.

A number of factors such as the rising prevalence of lifestyle and
infectious diseases, increasing usage of home-based POC devices, and
decreasing number of technicians in central labs are driving the growth
of the global market. Furthermore, growing government support and
increasing private investments and venture funding to support new
product development are other factors that are propelling the growth of
the market. In addition, rising adoption of POC devices, expansion of
therapeutic horizon, and technological advancements is further fueling
the growth of this market.

However, a few pivotal factors such as lack of alignment with definitive
central lab methods, and reluctance to change existing treatment
practices are hindering the growth of this market. Moreover,
disadvantages of POC testing over central lab methods and recalls of
leading glucose monitoring devices are the foremost challenges faced by
industry players.

New product launches is the key strategy followed by leading market
players to ensure their growth in the POC diagnostics market. Moreover,
partnerships, agreements, collaboration, and joint ventures; mergers and
acquisitions; and expansions are some other growth strategies adopted by
industry players in the global market.